The Northern Jack Pine Branch of the National Deer Association continues to demonstrate that the future of hunting is about far more than time in the field—it’s about mentorship, education, and meaningful connections.

Over the past year, the branch made exciting strides in building a unique partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, creating opportunities to introduce young people to the outdoors in a thoughtful, responsible, and impactful way. I sat down with Zach Krzyzanowski, Northern Jack Pine Branch President to talk about his key initiatives.

A Different Kind of Win

While many success stories in hunting focus on harvests, the Northern Jack Pine Branch is focusing on investing in the next generation.

Through their mentorship initiative, branch leaders worked alongside Big Brothers Big Sisters to connect youth and mentors (“bigs” and “littles”) with the goal of introducing them to hunting. Although the group didn’t ultimately make it into the field during the youth hunt this past season, what they did accomplish was just as meaningful:

• Participants completed hunter safety education
• Youth and mentors spent time at the shooting range learning fundamentals
• Strong emphasis was placed on confidence, comfort, and ethical decision-making

As Zach explained, that kind of emotional awareness is exactly what hunting needs more of. “The best hunters are the ones who understand the weight of the moment,” he shared. “That’s who we want mentoring the next generation.”

Building Pathways Into the Outdoors

The partnership itself is a testament to innovative thinking.

Recognizing that many young people are interested in hunting but lack access or guidance, the branch saw an opportunity to work with an organization already built on trust and mentorship. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides the relationships; the NDA brings education, resources, and support.

By working together, they created a model where:

• Youth are supported by someone they already trust
• Experienced hunters guide safe, ethical outdoor experiences
• Barriers to entry—like access, knowledge, and logistics—are reduced

And importantly, the program isn’t limited to hunting alone. The vision includes:

• Habitat projects
• Wildlife observation
• Skills development like small game hunting
• Learning about conservation and deer management

It’s about creating a pipeline of engaged, informed conservationists, not just hunters.

Keeping Safety at the Center

One of the defining characteristics of the Northern Jack Pine Branch is its commitment to safety and education.

Hunter safety isn’t treated as a checkbox—it’s foundational. Zach emphasizes that both mentors and youth understand safe firearm handling, ethical decision-making, and respect for wildlife before ever stepping into the field.

That commitment ensures that when participants are ready to hunt, they do so with confidence and responsibility.

A Mission Greater Than Hunting

At its core, the work of the Northern Jack Pine Branch reflects the broader mission of the National Deer Association:
to promote education, conservation, and responsible hunting practices.

Branch leaders often emphasize that hunting is just one piece of a bigger picture. Through initiatives like the Big Brothers Big Sisters partnership, they are helping people see that:

• Hunting can be a pathway to mentorship and personal growth
• Conservation is a shared responsibility
• Volunteering in the outdoors is an opportunity to give back in a meaningful, selfless way

“It reminds us that there’s more to hunting than just harvesting an animal,” Zach noted. “It’s about purpose.”

If you are between Midland and Mio…. reach out to Zach about getting involved if mentoring and ethical hunting are a value of yours! Zach can be reached at: krzyz1zm@cmich.edu

---